Apparatus for treating canned products



June 8 1926.

A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FdR TREATING CANNED PRODUCTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 17, 1919 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES 'AXEL JOHNSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOB 'IREATING CANNED PRODUCTS.

Original application filed February 17, 1919, Serial No. 277,384. Divided and this application filed January 19, 1921.

The hereinafter described invention relates to the processing of food products contained within metallic hermetically sealed containers and is a division of my copending application Serial Number 277,384,

filed February 17, 1919.

During the processing of food products within hermetlcally sealed containers and more particularly such as are required to be subjected to cooking for a considerable period of time, such for instance as corn, it is usual to first treat the sealed filled container within an apparatus known as a cooker, through which the containers are passed and during their progress therethrough subjected to the action of live steam for a given time (varying in accordance with the food to be treated), after which the treated containers are discharged from within the cooker to the outside. Where the cooking action is a prolonged one, such as requiredfor canned corn, the ressure within the container is raised considerably above atmospheric pressure, to approximately twenty-five pounds, with the result that on the discharge of containers from within the cooker there is a sudden release of pressure, with the result that the internal pressure causes an expansion of the end walls of the container to such an extent as to rupture the union between the ends and the body of the container, the result being a spoiled container and loss of the food product therein. Various methods and means have been employed with the end in view of preventing an expansion of the heated .contents causlng a rupture of the end walls of the cans or vessels on the discharge thereof from within the cooker, but the same so far as known to me have .failed to attain the desired result.

The object of the present invention therefore is to prevent a sudden expansion of the heated products within the metallic conhermetic seal union by a breaking away. of the'end walls of the containers as delivered from within the cooker.

In carrying out the invention, the filled tainers and a rupture or destroying of the.

Serial No. 438,346.

hermetically sealed containers are passed through a high pressure cooker and while maintained therein their travel therethrough is retarded for a suflicient length of time to permit the action of the heat to properly cook or sterilize the contained food product. During this cooking action which is-accomplished by the admission into the cooker of live steam under pressure, the pressure within the cooker is considerably above atmospheric pressure. The food product heated within the cooker under pressure develops a pressure within the container of approximatelytwenty-five pounds above atmospheric pressure. the sudden expansion of this pressure on the delivery of the containers from within the high pressure cooker, it is essential that the containers be subjected to a cooling atmosphere at a pressureabove atmospheric pressure, and therefore the containers with their heated products are conveyed from the high pressure cooker to a cooling chamber having a pressure therein above atmospheric pressure and'preferably a pressure co-extcnsive with the pressure within the high pressure cooker, the containers during such transfer being protected or maintained free of contact withthe 'outside atmos here. The containers are maintained wit 'n the high pressure cooling chamber until the contents thereof are cooled to substantially atmospheric pressure and then discharged therefrom. When delivered from the cooling chamber, all danger of sudden expansion of the container is removed and rupture of the hermetic seal union between the ends and body. thereof eliminated and spoiling of the contents thereof prevented.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a simple, inexpensive and effective apparatus for the carrying out of the invention, wherein Fi 1 is a longitudinally broken sectiona view of the apparatus. 7

Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view of the mechanism disclosed by Fig. 1 of the drawmgs.

To prevent apparatus restv on and are sup orted by- Fig. .3 is a transverse sectional view of one of the rotatable .controllin valves, taken on the line 33, Fig. 1 o the. drawings.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section end elevation taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 3 of the drawings, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a broken detail top plan view illustrative of the conveyer or carrier means employed for propelling the filled containers through the cooking and the cooling units of the apparatus, disclosing filled containers positioned therein.

Inthe drawings, the numeral 1 designates a high pressure cooker, the same being in the present case connectedto a high pressure cooler 2, by means of a valve controlled runway 3, interposed between the said units. Within each of said units, within the cooker ,and the cooler, there is arrangedan endless travelling can carrier or conveyer 1 forv receiving and propelling filled cans or 'containers through the respective units. The hermetically sea-led filled cans or containers are delivered into the chamber of the hi h pressure cooker 1, through a downward y inclined valve controlled runway 5, and

from ,said chamber into the chamber of the high pressure cooler through the valve controlled downwardly inclined runway 3, while the cooled cans are 'discharged or make their exit from the chamber of the high pressure cooler through the valve controlled downwardly inclined runway 6, Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each endless carrier or conveyer is the same as to construction and may be of any suitable type capable of conveying the filled cans or containers through the respective units of theapparatus, but in the present case they are lllustrated as comprising two endless s aoed parallel dis.- posed chalns 7 and 7 w ich are connected at aced intervals by means 7 of transverse y disposed bars 8', Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawin which said spaced bars rovide seats for the reception of the filed cans 10. These cans as propelled through the chambers of the respective units of the means of a longitudinally dis ose track 11, Fig. 1' of the drawings. Wit in each of the runways 5, 3 and 6, controlling the entrance and exit of the fil cans relative to the high presure cook nd the high pressure cooler, there is situated or located a transversely disposed rotatable valve 12, which valves serve to maintain the respective runways thereof closed. Each valve in construction is the same, and a description of one is thought suflicient for the others. These cylindrical feed and discharge valves rotate within a valve seat 13, formed in the said runways 5, 3 and 6, and the said valves are constructed or formed on one face with a receptacle receiving, depression rovided at opposite ends with trunmons 6, which trunnions 16 fulcrum at their 4 ends in the end walls of the valves. These gates which are adapted to lie normally against the inner wall -20f their cooperating chamber when the chambers register with the inlets of the runways '5, 3. and 6, are positively operated to expel the receptacles therefrom on the registry of the chamber with theoutlet of the said runways. For this purpose, to one of the trunnions of the swinginggate there is secured a pinion 17, Fig. '4 of the drawings,'which meshes with a rack member 18 on the free end of an arm 19, which arm is fulcrumed at its opposite end on a member 20 attached to and carried by one end of the valve 12. The arm 19 adjacent its fulcrum 20 is provided with a lateral extension carrying a roller 21, operating 'in a cam-groove 22, formed in a lplate 23, closing one end of the o ening t rough which the valve is inserted into its seat of the runway controlled thereby, thus a ositive operation is imparted to the swinging gate in each valve during the rotary movement of the saidvalve, as hereinafter set forth.

As stated, each valve is rotatably mounted within the valve seat of the runway controlled thereby and each of said valves carry at one end a worm pinion 24 which intermeshes with a worm 25 on a longitudinally disposed drive shaft 26, the valves being thusadapted for operation in timed relation to the shafts 27 and 27 over which work the endless carrier or conveyer for propelling the cans through the cooker and the cooler. The shafts 27 project at one endbeyond one side .of the cooker and cooler and have secured thereon a worm ar 28 which meshes with a worm 29 on the shaft 26 for imparting rotation to the shafts 27 for operating the can carriers or conveyers withln the chambers of the respective units 1 and 2 of the apparatus.

The sealed receptacles containing the food pr dots to be p ocessed are delivered into t nlet opening the runwa 5 in any suit ble manner and are receive in the depressed seat 14 of the valve 12 controlling said runway, and by the rotary action thereof conveyed to discharge the filled can into that portion of the runway establishing communication between the valve seat 14 and the chamber of the high pressure cooker '1, being delivered onto the supporting track "11 within one. of the can seats of the endless carrier or conveyer by means valvecontrolling the runway 3 and discharged thereby into that portion of the runway establishing communication between the valve seat of said runway and the interior of the cooler 2, being delivered onto the supporting track 11, within said cooler and within one of the seats of the endless travelling conveyer or carrier working within said chamber and by means of which the cans are propelled toward the exit of said chamber and into the upper portion of the runway 6, being received into the depressed portion 01'' seat of the valve 12 controlling the said runway 6 and being carried around and discharged by said valve into the portion of the runway 6 communicating the seat of the valve with the exterior atmosphere.

Live steam under pressure is admitted into the chamber of the cooker 1 through the valve controlled steam supply pipe 30, Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the condensed steam is withdrawn from within the chamber of the said cooker by means of the valve controlled outlet pipe 31. The steam under pressure admitted into the chamber of the cooker, subjects the cans passing therethrough to an external pressure of at least ten pounds per square inch, while the heat to which the cans are subjected during the cooking of the food products raises the interior pressure of the cans to approximately twenty-five pounds, and it is this internalpressure which must be taken care of before the cans are permitted to be brought into contact with the outside atmosphere, or else the sudden release of the cans of external pressure will cause the expansion of the pressure within the cans to burst or break the seal union between the ends of the can and the body thereof. As the cans are de livered from, the cooker into the cooling chamber from the valve controlled runway 3, they are preferably immersed within a bath of cold water 32, which water is'supplied through the valve controlled water supply pipe 32. The chamber of the cooler is maintained under a pressure above at-' mospheric pressure and preferably at apressure equal to that within the cooker 1, air under water pressure being admitted into the chamber of the cooker 2, through the valve controlled air inlet pipe 33, the excess of water from withinthe chamber of the said coolerbeing withdrawn through the valve controlled outlet pipe 33. The heated cans are thus discharged into the cooling chamber and preferably into a cooling bath and into the atmosphere under a pressure above atmospheric pressure, and this without the cans being permitted to come in contact with the outside atmosphere during the transfer period from the cooker to the cooling chamber, the cans being thus gradually prior to the discharge thereof from within the cooler.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting or confining the apparatus employed for the carrying out of the method invention to the details of construction of working parts herein shown and described, but on the contrary, wish to be understood as claiming as broadly as the state of the art will permit, any form of a processing apparatus for hermetically sealed food products wherein the C011 tainers are subjected to cooking under a high pressure and thence transferred to a cooler under pressure above atmospheric pressure and prevented from being brought into contact with the outside atmosphere during their transfer from the cooking chamber to the cooling chamber.

lVhile I have described the invention as first subjecting the hermetically sealed filled cans to be processed to a heating or cooking atmosphere above atmospheric pressure and thence transferring the cans or containers to a cooling atmosphere above atmospheric pressure and maintaining the same under such pressure until the internal pressure of the can or container has been lowered to substantially atmospheric pressure, it is obvious that any appropriate means may be employed for holding the processed cans or containers confined against undue expansion during the cooling of the same to reduce the internal pressure thereof to substantially atmospheric pressure. If desired, only one unit or chamber may be employed in carrying out the method invention, which may be utilized first as a high pressure cooker and after the hermetically sealed filled cans have been properly processed, the live steam supply may be cut off and cold air under pressure admitted within the said unit-for the cooling of the cans to reduce the internal pressure thereof to substantially atmo'sphen ic pressure. This dispenses with the-transfer of the cans from one unit to another, but the objection thereto is that it is a charge or intermittent operation and necessarily retards the operation of cooking and cooling.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired toprotectby Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus for cooking food products confined within hermetically sealed containers, the same comprising a cooking unit, means for producing within said unit a cooking atmosphere above atmospheric pressure, mechanism for propelling the containers to be treated through said unit, a cooling unit associated with said cooking unit, means admitting into said unit a cooling atmosphere under pressure, devices for transferring the processed containers from the cooking unit to the cooling unit, and mechanism for propelling the containers through the cooling unit.

2. An apparatus for processing food products within hermetically sealed containers, the same comprising a cooking chamber and an associated cooling chamber, a valved controlled communication between said chambers, means for admitting steam under pressure to the cooking chamber and air under pressure to the cooling chamber, a carrier within the cooking chamber for propelling sealed containers therethrough and a carrier within the cooling chamber for conveying therethrough the containers treated under pressure within the cooking chamber, a valved controlled inlet for the admission of the containers to the cooking chamber, and a valved controlled outlet for the cooling chamber through which the containers are discharged from said chamber with the interior pressure thereof reduced to substantially atmospheric pressure.

3. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a cooking chamber and a cooling chamber, a conveyer within each of the respective chambers, a valve at the inlet end of the cooking chamber and the dischar e end of the cooling chamber for controlling the feeding into and the discharge from the respective chambers of cans without directly opening the interor of the chambers to the atmosphere, and an inclined transfer runway between the discharge end of the-cooking chamber and the inlet end of the cooling chamber.

4. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a cooking chamber and a cooling chamber, a conveyer within each of the respective chambers, a valve at the inlet end of the cooking chamber and the discharge end of the cooling chamber for controlling the feeding into and the discharge from the respective chambers of cans without directly opening the interior of the chambers to the atmosphere, a transfer runway between the discharge end of the cooking chamber and the receiving end of the cooling chamber, and a valve within said runway for controlling the passage of cans therethrough and interrupting the direct communication between through said runway.

5. An apparatus for the described purpose comprisin two independent communicating pressure chambers, a conveyer' within each, and a single mechanism between said chambers for controlling the passage of containers from one chamber to the other without said chambers aflt'ording a direct communication between of said receptaclesjto the atmosphere and without affording a direct communication between said chambers.

7. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a pair of independent pressure chambers disposed in communicating relation, an inclined runway connecting said chambers, and through which receptacles are transferred from one chamber to the other and a valve within said runway for controllin -,the passage of the receptacles throug the same.

8. An apparatus for the described purpose I means for independently establishing and"- maintaining in each a pressure above atmospheric; and means for passingcontainers from one member "to the other without interchange of pressures.

10. A combined cooker and cooler comprising'a member having a fluid tight chamber with means for establishing and main-- taining a cooking temperature and a pressure above atmospheric therein, said member having a fluid tight inlet valve to said 'cham ber, a fluid tight discharge valve therefrom, and means for advancing containers from said inlet to said discharge valve; a second member having a fluid tight chamber with means for establishing and maintaining a cooling temperature and a pressure above atmospheric therein, said member having. an inlet to said chamber, a fluid tight discharge valve therefrom and means for advancing containers from said inlet to said discharge valve; and a fluid ti ht conduit communicatin at one end 'wit' the delivery side of the uid ti ht .discha'r valve of the first named memier and at t eother end opening into the inlet of the chamber of the second member for passin the containers under pressure from the rst to the second member.

11. A pressure cooking and cooling apparatus consisting of a pair of separate ehambers for cooking and cooling article's underpressure, a valve chamber therebetween and formed in its wall with a port communicating with each chamber, thesaid'ports afiording a communication between said chambers, a pocketed carrier valve within said-valve chamber interruptin the direct communication betweensailL'c ambers, an article conveyor .com-

, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressures between the cooker and the cooler.

13. In combination a pressure cooker, an adjacent cooler, a valve casing directly connected with the cooker and cooler; and a valve in said casing transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

14. In combination, a pressure cooking member, a cooling member, means for conveying cans successively through the cooker member and through the cooler member, and a single valve for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

15. In combination a pressure cooking member, means for conveying cans therethrough; a pressure cooling'member, means for conveying cans therethrough; a valve casing directly connected with theoutlet of the cooker and the inlet of the cooler, and a single valve in said casing for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the. cooker and the cooler.

16. In combination a pressure cooker, a separate cooler, means for moving cans through the cooker, means for moving cans thrugh the cooler; a valve between and directly connected with the outlet of the cooker and the inlet of the cooler, by which the cans are transferred from the cooker to the cooler,

said valve being adapted to' prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

17. In combination with a. pressure cooking member and a cooler arranged with the outlet of the cooker beside the inlet of the cooler, means for moving cans through the cooker; means for moving cans through the cooler; a valve casing between and directly communicating with the outlet of the cooker and the inlet of the cooler, and a valve in said valve casing for moving cans therethrough from the cooker to the cooler,-s'aid valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler. I v I 18. In combination a cooker and a separate cooler, in both of which a pressure may be maintained above atmospheric, and a single valve for transferring objects from the cooker to the cooler while maintaining a pressure above atmospheric, said valve being adapted to preventinterchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

19. In combination a can cooker, an adjacent can cooler and a valve casing connecting the cooker and the cooler adapted for maintaining pressure above atmospheric in said cooker and cooler and casing, and 'a single rotary valve in said valve casing for moving cans through said connection from the cooker to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

20. In combination a cooking member wherein pressure may be maintained aboveatmospheric, :1 separate cooling member wherein pressure may be maintained above atmospheric, means for conveying cans successively through the cooker member and through the cooler member, and a single,

valve for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler while maintaining the exterior pressure thereon, said valve .being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure between the cooker and the cooler.

21. In combination with a cooking member wherein ressure may be maintained above. atmosp eric, means for conveying cans therethrough; a separate cooling member where-in pressure may be maintained above atmospheric, means for conveying cans therethrough; a valve casing directly connected with'the outlet of the cooker and,

the inlet of the coolenand a single valve in said casing for transferring cans from the cooker to the cooler under pressure, said valve being adapted to prevent interchan e of pressure between the cooker and t e cooler.

22. In combination a cooker wherein pressure maybe maintained above atmospheric, a separate cooler wherein pressure may be maintained above atmospheric, means for moving cans through the cooker, means for moving cans throughthe cooler; a valve between and directly connected with the outlet of the cooker and the inlet of the' cooler, by which the cans are transferred from the cooker to the cooler under pressure above atmospheric, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure the inlet of the cooler, means in the cooker for'directing cans therefrom into the valve casing, and a valve in said casing for transferring the cans to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure and temperature between the'cooker and the cooler.

' 25. In combination, a cooker,- a cooler, means for moving cans through the cooker, means for moving cans through the cooler, a valve casing between and directly connected with the'outlet of the cooker and the inlet of the cooler, means in the cooker for directing cans therefrom into the valve casing, and a rotary valve in said casing whereby the cans are transferred from the cooker to the cooler, said valve being adapted to prevent interchange of pressure and temperature between the cooker and the cooler.

26. In combination a cooker, and a cooler arranged with the outlet of the cooker beside the inlet of the cooler; means for moving cans through the cooker; means for moving the cans throu h the cooler; a valve casing between, and irectl communicating with the outlet of the coo er and the inlet of the cooler, means in the cooker for directing cans therefrom into the valve casing, and a valve in said casing for transferring cans bein directl from the cooker to the cooler, Said valve eing adapted to preventinterchange of pressure and temperature between the cooker and the cooler.

27. An apparatus for the described purpose comprising a cooking chamber and a cooling chamber, a conveyor in each of said chambers; a Valve at the inlet end of the cooking chamber and the discharge end of the cooling chamber for respectively controlling the feeding into and the discharge of containers from the respective chambers without directly opening the interior of the chambers to the atmosphere; and means for directing containers from the discharge ofchamber for respectively controlling the feeding into and the discharge of containers from the respective chambers without di-. rectly opening the interior of the chambers to the atmosphere, and the said chambers f otherwise closed throughout, means inlet of the cooling chamber without exposure to the atmosphere, and means for maintaining inboth chambers a pressure above atmospheric.

In testimony whereof I have signed by name to this specification.

-. AXEL JOHNSON.-

irecting the containers from the .discharge of the cooking chamber into the- 

